Save The Mothers Conference

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Browsing Save The Mothers Conference by Subject "Maternal health"

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    Community Mobilization Through Facilitated Participatory Learning and Action Groups for Maternal and Newborn Health in Buikwe District
    (2018-02-23) Nabacwa, Ssonko; Mulawa, Zac; Bosa, Richard; Bulega, Milly; Nabuuma, Bernadette; Sentumbwe, Olive
    Background This project tested the Participatory Learning Action (PLA) cycle in mobilizing the community for improved maternal and newborn health. The project, promoted by the World Health Organization highlighted the importance of health promotion interventions that strengthen individual, family, and community capacity to contribute to improved health while addressing the quality of care in facilities in Buikwe District. Community mobilization was realized through facilitated participatory learning and action (PLA) cycles with women’s groups in rural settings with low access to maternal health services. Community mobilization through facilitated PLA cycles work by building the capacities of communities to organize and take action to address the social determinants of health that underpin maternal and newborn health. Objective The study aimed at reviewing the feasibility of community mobilization through facilitated PLA cycles for improved maternal and newborn health in Buikwe district Methods The PLA cycle follows a four- phase approach that involves joint efforts in identifying problems, solutions, implementing and assessing program impact together. Ten women from two sub-counties in Buikwe received training in the implementation of the PLA cycle within their communities. These facilitators then led women’s groups in utilising the PLA cycle to identify and address maternal and newborn health challenges in their communities Results A total of 15 women groups were formed which utilised the four phase PLA cycle in identifying and addressing maternal and newborn health challenges in Buikwe district. They generated several local health solutions and brought about an increased demand for maternal and newborn health services. Conclusion The PLA guide is an empowerment and advocacy tool for improved maternal and newborn Health. However, the integrated nature of this approach necessitates an understanding of priorities set in mobilizing communities, the role played by local leadership and the resources needed for improved maternal and newborn health.
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    The Enhancement of East African Universities’ Contribution towards the Attainment of Millennium Development Goal 5-Improving Maternal Health
    (Bradford Print Shoppe, 2011) Froese, Jean Chamberlain; Ssonko, Mary; Angina, Bonaventure Michael Okello; Namuyonga, Faith; Nakabembe, Eve; Kakembo, Fredrick
    Improving maternal health was recognized by the international community as a key component of the United Nations 2000 Millennium Summit initiative to reduce worldwide hunger, poverty and disease. All participating countries agreed to work toward the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG-5) in particular, which focuses on reducing the global maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent by 2015 compared to 1990 rates. According to recent estimates, exciting progress towards reducing maternal mortality has been made in many developing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia where the majority of maternal deaths occur. Despite this important progress however, an estimated 358,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide in 2008. Worse still, developing countries account for 99 percent, or 355,000, of all deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia account for 87 percent of global maternal deaths, (313,000 deaths). It has also been estimated that, in sub-Saharan Africa, a woman’s risk of dying from preventable or treatable complications of pregnancy and childbirth over the course of her life time is 1 in 31, compared to only 1 in 4300 in developed regions (United Nations, 2010).1 Sub-Saharan African countries have much to gain from the realization and achievement of the MDGs. This takes the involvement of different stakeholders including universities. However, what role(s) are the universities in Sub-Saharan Africa playing in educating students about MDGs and, especially, MDG-5? Given that current and future Sub-Saharan Africa University students are considered to be the elites in their countries and will become decision makers and activists, a study on the Enhancement of East African Universities’ Contribution towards the Attainment of MDG 5 reveals that universities can, and should play a pivotal role in accelerating progress.
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    Targeted Interpersonal Communication for Adolescent Girls and Young Women for Integrated Maternal Health Services in Uganda: Evidence from DREAMS Project 2016-2017
    (2018-02-23) Birungi, Rebecca; Nabirye, Davinah; Zikusooka, Amos; Batamwita, Richard; Kankulya, Richard; Kagguma, Edward; Kimbowa, Musa; Coutinho, Sheila
    Background Uganda has the highest population of young people below 18 years in the world. Among these adolescents, contraceptive use is still low at 11% compared to the unmet need (30.4%) for family planning services. This increases the risk of HIV transmission as well as unwanted teenage pregnancies. Uganda embraced the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDSfree, Mentored, and Safe women (DREAMS) initiative together with implementing partners to address the these challenges. Objective: Within the DREAMS initiative, USAID/Communication for Health Communities (CHC) focuses on the provision of technical support and spearheading Social Behavioural Change Communication Interventions (SBCC). Methods: CHC supported development of participatory health communication materials and tools and the training of peers on communication skills. CHC worked with village health teams, girl mentors, and implementing partners to reach these adolescents using an integrated IPC approach which included home visits, one-on-one dialogues, small group discussions, and youth bashes. During the intervention, we provided information, motivation and referral to HIV, family planning and other reproductive health services. Results: A total of 16,732 adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) were reached during IPC activities between April 2016 and December 2017. A total of 96,975 AGYWs received HIV testing tested during the project implementation July 2016 to June 2017. The positivity rate reduced from 3% to 2% for AGs and 6% to 5 % for YWs. This was attributed to the HIV prevention packages offered and SBCC pro-health behaviours of condom use and reduction in multiple concurrent partners. Female condom usage increased by 20% among AGs and by 95% among YWs. Conclusion: Interpersonal communication was key in promoting behavioural change for the adolescent girls and young women in the DREAMS initiative.